Woodhouse toads appear in holes during wet weather. Had we excavated with heavy equipment, they would probably have been squished. Having them here seems miraculous because most of the year the soil is bone dry.
Wood from fire mitigation has many uses. This is the garden gate I made. The Juniper will resist weather for many seasons.
Barrel cactus on summer soltice.
On the day of the concrete pour for the foundation, my son Shay cut strips from a big roll of burlap I'd purchased. Concrete needs to be kept moist while curing. He dipped the rolled-up burlap in a bucket of rainwater and when we unrolled it, these patterns of wet and dry burlap so delighted us. "Accidental (not) art!"
As a fine artist, for a number of years my work was about re-learning how to have, literally, a dialog with nature. I don't do as many "pieces", but I do find myself just talking outloud now, to the day, the sky, the trees, the bugs, the birds, the clouds, the crickets...
I knew dear Rosie, my 14 1/2 yr.-old Chesapeake, was nearing the end and since it was dry and hot summertime, I dug her a grave knowing I wouldn't be able to do it mid-day on short notice. Spending nights then in my trailer on the hillside building site, I woke one day and knew it was time. I called the vet and we made an appointment for 5:30 p.m. I thought Rosie and I would spend her last day under the pines, but when I put her bed outside and called her out, the vultures began to circle...confirming what I knew. So I loaded her up and we drove into town. When I took her into the vet, she laid down and closed her eyes. Dear Rosie, you were a good girl for so long. I drove her back up the hill and buried her with Juniper branches and rose petals.
Rosie's grave.
Making tools and doing things by hand takes time, but is a delight. It give one time to think things through. This was my first Juniper mallet. We're on the third one now.
SWEETIE!
The land is prime mountain lion habitat and I innately was always aware of this. After putting Rosie down, I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder. My sister said, "Pay attention to that. Go to the pound and get another dog." So six days after burying Rosie, I went and got Sweetie. She'd been there three weeks. She is the sweetest most gorgeous protector and girlfriend anyone could want.
Christmas day visit to the land, 2011. Two feet of snow on the ground.
The end of another beautiful day on the land.
